Combined vacuum-cleaner and blower.



E. L. B. ZIMMER, COMBINED VACUUM CLEANER AND BLOWER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, HHS.

Patented July 31, 1917.

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Arrousny UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST L. B. ZIMMER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO BAKER-HANSEN MANUFACTURING 00., 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORA- TION OF CALIFORNIA.

COMBINED VACUUM-CLEANER, AND BLOWER.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ERNEST L. B. ZIMMER, a citizen of the United States, residingat Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combined Vacuum- Cleaners and Blowers, of which the follow.- ing is a specification.

This invention relates to a combined vacuum cleaner and blower.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple, substantial, easily operated, valveless apparatus of the character described, which is so constructed and arranged that it may be used either as a vacuum cleaner in a building or for the purpose of supplying compressed air. Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible, interchangeable rubber hose connection between the cleaner and blower whereby a quick and positive change can be made without any chance of making a mistake when reversing the operation of the apparatus. Another object in providing the hose connection is to prevent transmission of metallic sounds through the connected pipe system, and also to insulate against leakage or transmission of electric currents. Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- The figure is a side elevation of the apparatus.

' Referring to the drawings, A indicates a tank or dust-collecting chamber of suitable construction in which is mounted a dust bag 2 through which the air passes before entering the pump, indicated at B. The upper end of the tank is closed by a head 3 and the bag 2 is secured to the lower face of the same and hangs interiorly of the tank,

' and the head and interior of the bag are connected with the suction side of the pump by means of apipe 4. The tank is otherwise provided with a closeable opening 5 through which the dust collected may be removed from time to time, and a suction pipe, such as indicated at 6, is connected at any suitable point with the tank.

7. indicates a service pipe which may con- Spccification'of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1917.

Application filed June 2, 1915. Serial No. 31,757.

nect with a pipe system throughout an ofiice building or the like, and connecting the lower end of the service pipe with the suction pipe 6 is a flexible rubber hose 8. The connection between the 'lower'end of the servicepipe and the hose 8 is preferably made with a suitable form of quickly detachable union, such as indicated at 9, for purposes hereinafter tobe described.

10 indicates an exhaust pipe which is connected with a chimney of the building, or any other suitable outlet, and 11 indicates the discharge or exhaust pipe of the pump. The discharge pipe on the pump is connected with pipe 10, in this instance by means of a hose connection 12, and the connection between'pipe l0 and hose 12 is preferably made by a quickly detachable union or coupling, such as indicated at 13.

In operation, when using the apparatus for vacuum cleaning purposes, hose 8 will be connected with the service pipe 7 of a building and hose 12 will be connected with the exhaust pipe 10. The suction produced by the pump will thus pass through the service pipe 7, hose connection 8, tank A," dust bag 2 and pipe 1. The air under partial vacuum will then pass through pump B and discharge through the pipe 11, hose 12 and pipe 10; the dust being intercepted and separated from the air while passing through tank A and the dust bag- 2.

If it is desired to change the apparatus into a. compressor system, or, in other words,

to discharge air under pressure through the service pipe 7, it is only necessary to disconnect'the unions 9 and 13. Hose 8 is then swung to one side, as indicated by dotted lines at 14, while hose 12 is connected with the service pipe, as indicated by dotted lines at 15. The air will now enter through hose 8, which communicates with the atmosphere, through pipe 6, tank A, dust bag 2 and will then pass through pipe 4, pump B and will finally discharge through pipe 11 and hose 12 which, inthis instance, connects .with the service pipe 7. The exhaust or discharge of the pump is thus forced through the service, pipe and applies pressure tosame where vacuum was previously produced. The air discharging under pressure through the service pipe may be used for any suitable purpose to which compressed air may be applied, such as running auxiliary machinery, sand blasting operations, spraying, etc.

An apparatus constructed and arranged as here shown is especially adapted for use in large oflice buildings and the like as it may be used during certain hours of the day as avacuum cleaner and the remainder of the time for other purposes already specified. The change from one operation to the other is quickly accomplished as it is only necessary to change the position of the hose connections, as previously described. The simplicity and ease with which this change is made not only eliminates any possibility of making a mistake, but it also serves other purposes. For instance, it positively prevents transmission of metallic sound through the service pipe and connected system and also insulates against leakage or transmisw sion of electric currents throughout the building.

The hose indicated at 8 is preferably constructed of heavy or reinforced material which produces suflicient stiffness to prevent the connection from collapsing when the apparatus is used as a vacuum cleaner. Hose 12 is at all times subjected to pressure and may, therefore, be constructed of more flexible or yielding material.

The materials and finish of the several parts of the device are otherwise such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

I wish it understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, and that I do not wish to limit myself to the specific design and construction here shown.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a tank, of a pump, a pipe permanently connecting the tank with the suction intake of the pump, an exhaust pipe, a service pipe line, a flexible pipe connected at one end with the tank and adapted to have its opposite end connected with or disconnected from the serviceline and a flexible pipe connected at one end with the discharge outlet of the pump and having its opposite end adapted to be connected either with the exhaust pipe or the service line. i

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a pump of a tank, a pipe connecting'the tank with the suction side of the pump, a service pipe line,

an inlet pipe on the tank, 'a hose on said pipe adapted to be connected with, or disconnected from, the service line, and a second hoseconnected at one end with the discharge side of the pump adapted to have its opposite end connected or disconnected with the service pipe line.

3. An interchangeable suction and blowing apparatus comprising in combination a tank, a pump having an inlet in communication with the tank, a service pipe normally connected with the tank, means for disconnecting the service pipe from the tank, the pump having an exhaust pipe and means by which the service pipe, when disconnected from the tank, may be connected direct with the exhaust.

4. An interchangeable suction and blowing apparatus comprisingin combination a tank, a pump having an inlet in communication with the tank, a service pipe normally connected with the tank, means for disconnecting the service pipe from the tank, the pump having an exhaust pipe and means by which the service pipe, when disconnected from the tank, may be connected direct with the exhaust, said last named means including a flexible hose attached to the pump exhaust and applicable for connection with either the service pipe or the exhaust pipe, the suction for the pump at all times taking place through the tank.

5. In an interchangeable suction and blowing apparatus comprising in combination a, tank, a service pipe, a quick-detachable coupling carried by said pipe, an inlet connection for said tank and a flexible pipe disposed between said inlet connection and the service pipe, secured to said inlet connection but detachably engaging said service pipe coupling, and a pump connected with the tank, a discharge connection for said pump, an exhaust pipe, a coupllng carried thereon, a flexiblepipe secured to said discharge connection and detachably engaged with said exhaust pipe, said flexible exhaust pipe being adapted to connect with the exhaust main or the service pipe when the flexible inlet connection is detached from the service pipe.- 7

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST L. vB. ZIMMER.

Witnesses E. S. PAGE, A. E. CURRAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). G, 

